When you think of the most original rap artists of all time, who comes to mind? Original can mean a lot of things but to me it means something that can’t be duplicated. In the rap game, when I think of the most innovative and unique artists, I always start the conversation with E-40. Earl Stevens has been relevant in the rap game going back to the early 90’s with his unique delivery, extensive vocabulary, and of course, his slang.
E-40 was born and raised in Vallejo, CA and grew up rapping in the late 80’s with his cousin B-Legit, his sister Suga-T and his brother D-Shot in the rap group, M.V.P. aka Most Valuable Players. While Earl spent the large majority of his life in the Bay Area, he went to Grambling State University in Louisiana for a year with his cousin, B-Legit. E-40’s group, Most Valuable Players had one release on vinyl drop back in 1988 which I’ve included here below. M.V.P. had 2 songs on the release and you could hear a young E-40’s style starting to bubble hear on “Thought I Could Trust A Girl”.
M.V.P. later changed their name to The Click and released their first EP back in 1990, Let’s Side. With this release you start to hear E-40 flexing different vocal inflections which became his signature flow in the 90’s that we all came to love. You can find the 12” on Discogs right now for $800 and the maxi-cassette for $300. Props to anybody who has either of these in their collection.
The next release from E-40 and The Click dropped in 1991 and it was the EP, Mr. Flamboyant. The lead track, “Mr. Flamboyant” is where I feel E-40 showed off his refined and polished flow. Using his vocal inflections and speeding up and slowing up the delivery just kept you on your toes. His style was just too damn fresh and one that I felt has never been replicated in the rap game. I’ll never forget the first time I heard this track because it was just so different than anything else coming out at that time. The song later appeared on The Click’s full-length debut, Down And Dirty. Here’s the OG version of “Mr. Flamboyant” for your listening pleasure. This is one of my holy grails to add to my collection at some point. There are 2 cassettes up on eBay right now for $400+. I don’t have the cash to throw down like that but you better believe this gem stays on the mind.
For all fans of 90’s bay area rap, don’t sleep on the playlist below. Likely some hits you know and love but maybe some slappers you missed from way back when.